P Jordan to attend launch of indigenous Xhosa literature publishing
initiative, 29 Apr

25 April 2006

On Saturday, 29 April 2006, Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Z Pallo Jordan,
will be the guest of honour and deliver the keynote address at the launch of
Sindiwe Magona’s “Abantwana Baba Ntwana Bam (My children’s children)” at the
Gugasithebe Cultural Centre, Washington Street in Langa Township, Cape Town at
2pm.

This project is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Arts and
Culture and Cape Town-based Blac Publishing House owned by renowned poet and
writer James Matthews.

Significantly, Magona’s “Abantwana” is the second book to be launched under
the project following the publishing of “Amazwi Amatsha” edited by Abner
Nyamande. They both mark an important development in the effort to encourage
writing in indigenous languages.

Ironically, Magona’s novel originally written in Xhosa only received
critical acclaim when it was published in English as “My Children’s
Children”.

The partnership with Matthews’ Blac Publishing House is a token of the
Ministry’s of Arts and Culture’s commitment to establishing a sustainable
public-private-partnership and making a positive contribution to the publishing
industry.

“It is one of our primary obligations to discover and nurture new talent by
creating an enabling environment for writers in indigenous languages.

“Of course, writing is the cornerstone of literacy and writers are among the
custodians of our cultural heritage.

“We want to produce writers and engender a wider readership and appreciation
for South African literature, particularly literature in indigenous languages,
which has suffered years of marginalisation.

“Our Constitution, adopted on Human Rights Day in 1996, recognises 11
official languages. The Ministry of Arts and Culture, as the custodian of our
collective heritage and memory, is committed to ensuring the equitable
development and use of all these languages.

“This is what we aim to achieve through this particular project,” says
Minister Jordan.

It is therefore necessary for this significant development to not only be
brought to the attention of the media but the community at large, especially in
the Western and Eastern Cape.

You are thus requested to participate and contribute to giving this event
extensive exposure. We believe it will be helpful if the interviews with
publisher James Matthews and/or writer Sindiwe Magona can be arranged for
Wednesday, Thursday or even Friday as part of the build-up.

Enquiries:
Sandile Memela
Cell: 082 800 3750

Issued by: Ministry of Arts and Culture
25 April 2006